The Big Issue

This Blog is named "Lightly" for a reason.  It's a space for lightness - of soul, of humour and of being.  There is plenty of angst, anger, frustration and forceful opinion in the world without adding more fuel.

But today, Friday 23rd September, I'm drooping with Issue Fatigue.  Over the past few months, I've consciously avoided diving too deeply into the daily news, or entering the social media fray about anything.  A bit mushroomy, yes, but my head is exploding with the constantly growing and endless fug of rage over Issues.

The list is endless - it's quicker to itemise the South African politicians, Councillors and Government officials NOT mentioned in dodgy deals or trough hogging than to name and shame those unveiled daily.

Then, of course, the relentless squawking over municipalities and Government departments who are not doing their jobs properly, infrastructure collapsing, water (when we have it) a poisonous morass, poaching, theft, abuse of power, neglect, crime, students, incomprehensible and obviously moronic decisions affecting the country and a bunch of spouses murdering their dearly beloved fills page after page, airwaves and bandwidth to bulging.

And as the Issue Platform groans and sags beneath the ever growing pile of Issues dumped upon it daily, the keyboard experts and specialists rub their hands in glee and jump in.  Before you know it, a shared post about so called 'students' smashing a venerable, and valuable, education property has been hijacked by social media trolls and insults between the commentators fly like horse dung. The main Issue is trampled under foul, abusive language thrown around by people who don't know each other at all, let alone well enough to have an opinion of the other's intellect, social standing, upbringing, morals and beliefs. Which doesn't hold people back for a minute from publicly airing their views and judgement about someone they have never, nor will ever, meet.

It's the very lowest form of discourse, yet grows like a horrid virus.  Even the Issues have Issues now, nothing ever seems to be resolved and removed from the pile as we build a wobbly Tower of Babel.

Please, for the love of all that we hold dear, can we Stop, Pause, Touch and Re-engage?  Quietly, politely and respectfully?  As any veteran of marital strife will tell you, shouting at and over each other doesn't sort out issues, it just leaves the combatants hoarse and exhausted.  (Maybe those murderous spouses realised this and chose a more active option?!)


Don't get me wrong - I love living somewhere that has real issues to solve.  It's just the infinite number that continue on and on, growing little issues of their own like pimples upon carbuncles, that are getting me down at the moment.

No wonder there's no room for happy stories, the Issue Platform bulges sky high.  And deep down I KNOW that what is out there on the Issue Platform, like the protesting students, is a fraction of what is really going on day to day. There are good, generous hearted people getting on with their lives and being kind to those around them.  Bank clerks and mechanics who go the extra mile. Car guards who beam cheerfully as they help unload into your car a staggering amount of groceries they couldn't afford in a month of Sundays. The warmth of the Police sergeant eager to show off his K9 partner's skills. 

Anyhow, with that all off my chest and seeing as it's Friday, and I really, really want to begin the weekend with a smile, here's a chirpy song especially for you from the awesome Pharrell Williams.  If this doesn't cheer you up and get you smiling and bopping, there is just no hope!

Happy weekend everyone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Sxv-sUYtM